During his stop in Boston on Wednesday, President Barack Obama visited a well-known South End sandwich shop.

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The president and his motorcade pulled up to Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe on Columbus Ave. near the intersection with Pembroke Street.

A long-time favorite of people living in the South End, Obama and Congressman Ed Markey, who Obama spent time in Boston campaigning for Wednesday, shook hands and hugged several diners, and took time to encourage them to vote in the June 25 special Senate election.

"I know it seems like there's an election every other week," President Obama said.

The very small diner, which consists of a lunch counter and several tables, was packed with patrons and others such as Gov. Deval Patrick and Mayor Tom Menino.

The president moved through the restaurant greeting patrons, including nurse Jessica Wiggins, who works at Massachusetts General Hospital and had met Mr. Obama after the Boston Marathon bombings. "He just said that he really appreciates what we do as nursing and how everyone came together after" the bombings.

The president also posed for photographs with an 11-year-old girl whose father was born in Hawaii.

Before leaving the restaurant, the president purchased a cheeseburger and fries for lunch. He emerged holding lunch in a white paper bag.